Avoiding Certain Places Because Of Gluten Intolerance

[Rodmanj]

I haven't officially been diagnosed with Celiac, but I realized that I was gluten intolerant last November and have been on the gluten free diet ever since. My mom has Celiac, so I don't usually worry about whether or not there's going to be food I can eat when I'm home. However, since I've stopped eating gluten, I constantly find myself being afraid to go to certain places because I'm afraid that there isn't going to be anything for me to eat there, especially when I'm traveling. It's gotten to the point where I'm afraid to go to family functions because as understanding as many of them are about the gluten intolerance, I don't feel like they completely get it, and for the first time in my four years of college, I didn't go on a retreat with my Christian group that I looked forward to going on every year because there are so many people who go and I didn't think they would be able to accommodate me. Looking back, I get really mad at myself for missing out on these things because of my fear, and I was wondering if there was anyone else on here who gets the same way when it comes to leaving home.

[kareng]

You must take responsibility for having safe food! You cannot depend or expect others to figure it out and serve you safe food.

If you want to go on a church retreat, bring your own food. Don't expect them to " accomadate" you. Even if they tried, they probably wouldn't understand cc or that some oats are not gluten-free. Going to family functions, bring and fix your own food!

Sorry....it's time to grow-up my young friend!

Love,

Mom Karen

Realized as I was typing this that this is the same stuff I am trying to tell my college son. Be responsible for yourself.

[ciamarie]

I think being afraid to 'stand out' or 'be different' makes it harder. However, you do need to take care of yourself but not become a hermit in the process; which is easier said than done.

A few years ago I went to a Women's retreat over a long weekend, and tried avoiding wheat (though I wasn't gluten-free, I was avoiding wheat...) and that was tough, but not impossible. I wasn't concerned about CC either, I just avoided the obviously wheat-filled items such as bread, pasta, etc. Since everything was served 'family style', avoiding CC would have been close to impossible, even if it came out of the kitchen gluten-free.

For something like that, even if you bring your own food, you'd have to be explaining to your table-mates why you're not sharing the food they're eating. And meal time is a big part of the social time, at least at the retreats I attended. So basically my advise would be that you'd need to get more comfortable with being different, and speaking up for yourself, asking questions, etc. That's easier if you're with people who already know you and are familiar with your 'issues'. But, you can do it! Stretch your comfort zone a bit, and it gets easier (though I'm still working on that myself).

It's possible that the retreat location has the ability to safely feed you, also. It wouldn't hurt (in future) to contact them and/or do a web search to find out if they can accommodate you, or their policy on bringing your own food, if they have a microwave you could use, etc. And, you can start a thread or do a search on here about what to look out for, what to ask, etc. when the need arises in the future.

[SmnthMllrX]

I know exactly how your feeling. Mainly when I travel I try and bring my own food along with me, but when staying in a hotel for a couple days and there is no refrigerator it's almost impossible. I hate going to my boyfriends family functions because his family doesn't understand and when I do bring my own food and prepare and cook it I almost always get sick from cross-contamination. I also dread going to out to eat to places that don't have a gluten-free menu because I hate trying to explain to a clueless waiter what gluten is.

I've been gluten free for about four years now and most of it gets easier, what hasn't gotten easier for me is allowing others to prepare my food. When I go away I do just as much research on what I'm going to eat as I do on the places I'm going to stay. But I'll admit that sometimes won't go places unless I'm not going to eat for a couple days. And there's no place on earth that's worth going to if I can't eat.

[Rodmanj]

I've been thinking about it, and the real reason why I get nervous about staying overnight at a lot of places has more to do with me being prediabetic and less to do with the gluten intolerance. Like, my blood sugar drops really low if I go too long without eating (mostly between breakfast and lunch) and since most of my family doesn't have those kinds of problems, they don't understand that when I get like that I NEED to eat something, and it's gotten worse since I stopped eating gluten because there aren't as many "regular" foods I can eat and I can't just go somewhere expecting there to be something I can eat anymore.

[kareng]

I've been thinking about it, and the real reason why I get nervous about staying overnight at a lot of places has more to do with me being prediabetic and less to do with the gluten intolerance. Like, my blood sugar drops really low if I go too long without eating (mostly between breakfast and lunch) and since most of my family doesn't have those kinds of problems, they don't understand that when I get like that I NEED to eat something, and it's gotten worse since I stopped eating gluten because there aren't as many "regular" foods I can eat and I can't just go somewhere expecting there to be something I can eat anymore.

Exactly, ! You have to bring something with you at all times, in case you need it. I keep packs of nuts in my purse or car. Always. Then you just take them out when you need to eat without waiting for someone else to find you something.

There are plenty of "Regular " foods you can eat. I just wouldn't trust others to keep them safe for us. You can get little packets of peanut butter or almond butter and eat them straight from the packet if needed.

[cavernio]

I know you have the best of intentions Karen, but telling someone its time to 'grow up' because they're unsure of how to deal with all the socialness around eating food is, ummm, well...Let's just say Rodmj could be a diagnosed 50 year old who was asking the same question. That he's concerned is the sign of maturity.

I'm not diabetic, but if I were I think I'd take to carrying around food with me at all times regardless of being a celiac. Carrying around food seems like the only option for you. And sure you won't always have access to a fridge, so it might be important to take to carrying around a merse or something that you can put fruit, carrot sticks, or nuts in, or other gluten-free snacks you can think of/find.

CC is going to be an issue pretty much all the time anywhere you go. As to your retreat, I'm not sure how it all works, but if it were me (well, I might not have gone like you if it were me!) and I went, I'd probably bring a bag of apples and only eat that all weekend.

I'm going to be going to a family BBQ in a month's time, and my mother-in-law, concerned as she is, wants to make something I can eat. She gave me a great idea that I'm currently using at home with my old pans. Aluminum foil. If I bring my own gluten-free food that needs to be cooked, I can just stuff it the foil and use the same BBQ no problem. (Although I really don't want to make an issue of it for 1 meal whatsoever, and just eat before I go and not eat when I'm there. But then people will feel bad for me and be start asking what they can get me, and it will be more awkward and a nuisance than if I just bring my own damned burger and bun.)

[sallyalewis]

I understand completely. I've been gluten free since February 2012, which isn't that long, and am headed on vacation with my parents and my sister's family. Instead of looking forward to a week at the beach, I've been worried about what was I going to eat, and what if I gluten myself? Also, I have quite a few allergies and I'm worried about being allergic to any sunblock I try, the ocean water making me break out, the pool chemicals ect....

I have googled local "Health Food Stores in the area and contacted them to ask if they are open, and if they carry the items I'll be needing.

I've been testing sunblock this week.

I'm trying to look forward to the fun, but know someone will say "You're allergic to SOMETHING else?!"

Good luck!

[nvsmom]

I know this is even more of a hassle, but I find bringing extra food to share makes a slightly different diet less of an issue. I've been doing that for my "picky eating" kids for years. People are less likely to notice their pickiness when they are eating something that everyone else is.

Best wishes.

[Cara in Boston]

Check out the meals from GoPicnic. They are sort of like "lunchables" but shelf stable and they have several gluten free options. They are small and compact so they are easy to travel with and keep in your car or office. Not super healthy, but not too terrible. We use them for travel and my son keeps one at school in case he forgets his lunch.

Aside from that, we bring our own food to every event. I usually bring a dish to share and pack a complete meal for me and my son.

Cara